Karuna steps up attack on EC

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Sharpening his attack on the Election Commission of India, DMK President and Chief Minister M Karunanidhi on Friday said its directions had impeded even the basic functioning of the state administration.

"The government cannot, rather should not, take any important policy decisions till counting of votes on May 13. What happens if there is an urgent situation wherein such a decision has to be taken? Only the Election Commission knows," he said.

In a letter to his partymen, Karunanidhi said officers were left in a ‘dilemma’, following EC guidelines and said they have been ‘advised’ by the Commission not to take up review work of existing projects.

"Only when certain works are taken up now that the crop season can start in June during southwest monsoon. It seems the EC has advised officials not to take up even review work. Following this, a situation has come up wherein even basic work is not been able to be done," he lamented.

"An elected government and its representatives are qualified to discharge their duties till they are elected again. But how is it justified to prevent them from doing that. Only the EC and those well-versed with law should find a solution to this," he said.

Recalling his earlier statements, he said while the votes will be counted on May 13, the new government had to be sworn in on May 17, leaving only a couple of days to finish the process involved in that.

"If that be the case, what is the urgency in announcing April 13 as the polling date. They could have given some more time. Though EC is an institution that cannot be questioned, shouldn’t Caesar's wife be above suspicion," he asked.

Karunanidhi had been training his guns against the EC, saying some of its officials were behaving like in ‘Emergency times,' while indicating that its powers should be clipped in the future.

He had also come down on the Commission for ordering the transfer of DGP Letika Saran and ADGP (Intelligence) Jaffer Sait, "just because the AIADMK had complained."